The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
The showdown University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the UW-Stevens Point has been highlighted since last season.
During their previous meeting in 2012, the Pointers upset the previously 15th ranked Warhawks in dramatic fashion.
The Pointers were prepared for battle in their last home game of the season, playing against the Warhawks, ranked 6th in the nation with an 8-0 record.
With a winter chill in the air, the game immediately turned into a defensive battle with the first seven possessions of the first quarter ending with punts.
With 48 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the Warhawks returned a punt for 43 yards to end up on the Pointers four-yard line.
The following play resulted in a touchdown pass and the Pointers found themselves down 7-0 in the first quarter.
With seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, Pointers senior quarterback Mitch Beau hit sophomore wide receiver Matt Sosinsky for a 28-yard pass.This play led to a 13-yard touchdown run by Beau, which would eventually be the only points scored by UWSP in the game.
Following the Pointers touchdown, the Warhawks immediately retaliated by returning a 99-yard kickoff for a touchdown to make the game 14-7.
The third quarter began well for the Pointers, starting with a blocked punt by sophomore Zach Vallafskey.
As the defenses continued to dominate in the game, a lone field goal early in the fourth quarter by the Warhawks put them up 17-7.
The Pointers would not be able to score in their next three possessions.
“We stuck together as a team. We fought until the last second. We needed a play to go our way sometimes,andwejustcouldn’tseem to get that to happen,” Sosinky said.
The Pointers held the highly explosive offense of the Warhawks to 182 yards. Before this matchup, the Warhawks have averaged 441.6 yards per game.
Head Coach Tom Journell noticed the team just couldn’t get the running game going. The Pointers were limited to 47 yards on 24 rushes.
“Just trying to run the football is a challenge against those guys. That’s probably the biggest challenge,” Journell said. “Their defense is so good. They’re coached so well and they have great talent.”
With 21 seniors on the Pointers roster, emotions ran high as they played their last home game in a UWSP uniform.
“There are a lot of emotions. This is the last time I am on this field. We didn’t go out the way I wanted to but at the end we still battled and did all that we can do,” said senior linebacker Cody Seibel.
Journell also recognized the seniors for their time and commitment to the team.
“They competed. I told them that I was sorry to have their last experience here and lose, but they’ve won a lot of games here. It’s always an emotional time when you play your last game on the home turf,” Journell said. “I’m proud of them, we have 21 of them, and those guys battled.
The Pointers will travel to UW-Stout Saturday for their final regular season game. “We want to be 1-0 at the end of the week and send the seniors out the right way,” Sosinksy said.
Connor Daniels
